First flight since Assad’s fall takes off from Damascus airport

The Damascus International Airport reopened for domestic flights on Wednesday for the first time since Syria’s rebel opposition swept into the capital 10 days ago, toppling the regime of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad. The airport closure followed the rapid collapse of the Syrian army and official state institutions, including the airport, as rebel groups, advanced on Damascus from several sides. “We’ve just reopened,” said Ali Rifai, a public relations official for Syria’s new caretaker transitional government.